Department of Finance requests six IT and examiner positions; governor backs all but two

The Idaho Department of Finance told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 21 that it seeks six new full‑time positions and related one‑time equipment to bolster IT examination and investigative capacity amid rising cybercrime and fraud targeting older Idahoans.

The request would add six full‑time positions and $816,600 in ongoing state regulatory fund spending, plus a one‑time capital outlay package. Department Director Patty Perkins told the committee the positions would expand IT and investigative capacity across the Financial Institutions Bureau, Consumer Finance Bureau and Securities Bureau and help the agency "follow the money" in cyber‑enabled fraud schemes. "There is a huge increase in cybercrime," Perkins said, adding the agency has a "particular concern about the elderly population."

The request: 6 full‑time positions and one‑time capital outlay

Why it matters: the department said fraud and fintech‑related cybercrime are increasing, and investigators frequently require specialized tools and partnerships to trace funds and crypto flows. That workload, the department said, has outpaced its current staff. Sen. Wintrow and Sen. Cook pressed the agency for concrete workload data and outcome measures; Director Perkins agreed to provide a fuller breakdown to the committee. Budget analyst Noah Peterson said some supporting figures exist (for example, FBI cybersecurity damage estimates) but that tangible, agency‑specific workload metrics were not immediately available from the Legislative Services Office.

What the positions would be and costs

The agency said it currently has 72 full‑time personnel and asked for six ongoing FTP funded by state regulatory funds totaling $816,600. The enhancement breakdown presented to the committee included: - an IT examiner for the Financial Institutions Bureau (salary asked at $121,300; salary grade P); - a financial examiner for Financial Institutions (also $121,300; grade P); - two Financial Investigator‑3 positions (IT examination focus) budgeted at $82,500 each (grade M) — one to focus on mortgage and credit services, the other on consumer services; - a Financial Investigator‑3 focused on cybersecurity for the Securities Bureau (budgeted at $82,500; grade M); - a forensic accounting specialist for the Securities Bureau (budgeted at $82,500; grade M).

The request also included a one‑time OITS‑recommended hardware package totaling $52,600 (laptops $42,000; docking stations $6,100; portable field monitors $4,500) and other one‑time capital outlay for desks and office equipment.

Governor's recommendation and outstanding item

The governor recommended the department's requested items with one exception: two Financial Investigator‑3 positions for the Consumer Finance Bureau (the two IT‑focused investigator positions) were not recommended. Mr. Peterson explicitly noted that those two positions were the line item the governor did not recommend.

Funds and spending context

The Department of Finance primarily operates from state regulatory funds (fee revenue from examinations, filing fees, fines and forfeitures). The department also reported a mortgage recovery fund and a securities education fund that are each statutorily limited to $50,000 of annual use to support defined activities. Over the most recent four fiscal years the department averaged about 92.5% use of its appropriation; fiscal 2024 expenditures were roughly 77.8% personnel, 21% operating and 1.2% capital outlay, according to the agency slides presented.

Committee follow‑up and next steps

Committee members asked for measurable workload and outcome data to justify the positions and to enable later review of return on investment. Director Perkins agreed to provide follow‑up materials on recent cases, workload and partnership activity with Idaho State Police and other law‑enforcement partners. The committee did not take a vote on these requests during the Jan. 21 hearing; the governor's recommendation will be considered as the budget process continues.